back and forth again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back and forth again" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is generally used to convey the idea of doing something repeatedly or continuously. For example, "The arrow flew back and forth again across the night sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The rain changed its mind to snow and sleet and back and forth again.

The New York Times

So the forms would go back and forth, again and again.

Harvard Business Review

Yesterday, his personalities swiveled back and forth again, as did his concentration.

The New York Times - Sports

On match point, Ferrer went back and forth again like a pinball, until Gasquet sailed a backhand long.

The New York Times - Sports

Reaching the end of the room, he turned around, and walked back, and then back and forth again.

The New Yorker

If the fielders are slow at retrieving the ball, batsmen can run back and forth again to score another run.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

We kept arguing, mouthing back and forth, clashed again, separated us, clashed again, separated us, and here we are now". .

Los Angeles Times

Geraldine A. Ferraro went from failed vice-presidential candidate to "Crossfire" sharpshooter to failed Senate candidate, then back and forth yet again, before returning to the chattering class.

The New York Times

The teams traded the championship back and forth once again over the course of the summer.

Wikipedia

The baffling back-and-forth-and-back-again has left lawmakers scrambling, including a growing number of Republicans who have condemned Trump and touted the assessment of American intelligence officials.

HuffPost

The 2021 ASG has not yet been announced so it's unclear if the AL-NL back-and-forth will get going again.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back and forth again" to describe actions or discussions that involve repeated movement or exchange between two points or ideas. For clarity, ensure the context makes it clear what is moving or being exchanged.

Common error

Avoid using "back and forth again" when "back and forth" already sufficiently conveys the repetitive nature. Adding "again" can sometimes be redundant and weaken the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back and forth again" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to describe a repetitive or alternating action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and emphasizes the continuous nature of the movement or exchange, building upon the base phrase "back and forth."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "back and forth again" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that describes repetitive or alternating actions. As noted by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to emphasize continuous movement or exchange. While suitable for various contexts, including news, academic, and scientific writing, be mindful of potential redundancy, as "back and forth" often suffices. Consider alternatives like "repeatedly moving back and forth" or "alternating back and forth" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going back and forth repeatedly

Adds emphasis to the repetition of the back and forth action.

repeatedly moving back and forth

Focuses on the repetitive nature of the movement more explicitly.

alternating back and forth

Emphasizes the alternating nature of the movement or action.

oscillating back and forth

Suggests a rhythmic and continuous movement.

shuttling back and forth

Implies a regular and frequent movement between two points.

to and fro continuously

Uses a slightly more formal and literary tone.

backwards and forwards repeatedly

A more descriptive and less idiomatic alternative.

reversing direction continuously

Highlights the change in direction as the key action.

moving in alternating directions

A more descriptive alternative, losing the idiomatic feel.

coming and going continuously

Focuses more on the arrival and departure aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "back and forth again" in a sentence?

You can use "back and forth again" to describe repetitive movements or exchanges. For example, "The negotiations went "back and forth" again before a final agreement was reached."

What does "back and forth again" mean?

"Back and forth again" means to move or alternate repeatedly between two positions or ideas. It emphasizes the continuous nature of the movement or exchange.

Are "back and forth" and "back and forth again" interchangeable?

While similar, "back and forth again" emphasizes the continuous and repeated nature of the action. "Back and forth" simply describes the alternating movement or exchange. Consider the context to determine which phrase is more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to "back and forth again"?

Alternatives include "repeatedly moving back and forth", "alternating back and forth", or "going back and forth repeatedly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.